These videos on such topics highlights on both the achievements and shortcomings of the various countries which either consider themselves to be a "football nation" or they at the very least have a national footballing identity and structure both at the domestic club levels and at the international levels. The videos serve not to discredit or defame the hard work and reputational image of such countries and confederations which appear to fall short in the ranking system. Instead, they seek to motivate the various football establishment within such countries and confederations to do better.
This system also seeks to applaud those countries and confederations which attain a high rating based on their achievements and high recognition within the football world. This is done in the hope that they too could continue to retain their highly rated reputation as the leaders in the football world when it comes to delivering on the 5 Key Cornerstone Points (KCPs) of Football Development. These are:
1. Football History and International Accolades - Here we look at the history behind the football authorities in a country or confederation as well as the history behind their national teams both at the senior levels and junior levels for both the Men's sides and Women's sides. We also look at the football competition achievements of both the countries and confederations both at domestic levels and international levels.
2. World Class Players, Managers and Legends Produced - One thing every football fan needs to know when considering whether their country is a strong football nation or not is that they need to ask themselves this question at some point: How many world-class football Legends and Players have we produced?
Always remember what makes the reputation of a football nation or confederation stand the test of time is the level of recognition and respect given to those iconic players and football legends produced by the football establishments of those countries and confederations. Although football is a team game many of us always remember matches because of those "marquee" superstar names such as Pele, Maradona, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo (CR7), Platini, Ronaldo (R9), Zidane, Cruyff and Ronaldinho. they are the difference makers that stay in our minds forever. They've have also produced the world class technical coaching brains of geniuses such as Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arrigo Sacchi, Marcello Lippi, Jurgen Klopp, etc. The more recognizable a country's football legend, player or manager is respected globally on a world class level then there is a high chance that the country or confederation could be considered to be a strong football nation or confederation depending on how many of these players and legends they have produced.
3. Leagues Structure, Clubs Infrastructure and Stadiums Infrastructure - Here we look at the basic systems, structures and facilities put in place by the football organizations running the various football competitions and leagues from the top professional levels to the lower grass roots football levels. If these facilities, structures and systems can be considered to be of a high world class standard level then there is a high chance that the country or confederation could be considered to be a strong football nation or confederation depending on how many of these players and legends they have produced on a consistent basis.
4. World Football Fame and Reputation - The "name value" factor means everything in football!! As a football fan never let anyone deceive you into believing that this is not important. The reason why confederations such as CONMEBOL and UEFA and countries such as Brazil, Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Argentina, Portugal, France, Hungary, Uruguay, Scotland, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland and the Netherlands are who they say that they are in football is because they built up their 'name value' to be football powerhouses off the backs of the three previously mentioned Cornerstone Points of Football Development above.
5. Future Prospects, Plans and Aspirations for Development in the Football World - This is the final and perhaps the most important of all the 5 Cornerstone Points of Football Development because as a football fan this point exposes whether football development within your country or confederation is in an impoverished state of disrepair due to the corrupt practices of those individuals who might have appointed in positions of high authority with the various football establishments but have failed to deliver on their promises. If the football organizations can clearly show physical and tangible evidence of them implementing their future plans, prospects and aspirations to grow football within their countries and confederations then there is a high chance that the country or confederation could be considered to be a strong football nation or confederation depending on how much of those plans and aspirations have been achieved. If they fail to do this or they implement these changes at a level that can be considered to be low level standard or mediocre at worst, then such highly ranked but potentially corrupt individuals within the football organizations of countries and confederations need to be voted out and removed from office in order to save the football within the country or confederation. Above everything else the football comes first!!
Each of these 5 Cornerstone Points Criteria for rating the strongest football Nations and Confederations offers 1 Star if it can be deduced that the country or confederation meets the requirements specified. The overall total of 5 Stars would be given to any country or confederation which meets all the 5 Cornerstone Criteria. The following list sets out the meanings behind the ratings for each star attained:
5 Stars (Strong Football Nation or Confederation) - This is the highest rating given to a football country or confederation. It shows that all systems, facilities and structures are working and they are not just working at mediocre levels but they are working at world class levels. Countries and confederations of this caliber also have the "name value" factor on point. In order words, they have achieved a global brand recognition. They have also produced a conveyer belt of Legends and iconic players and managers on a world class level. History has also been on their side for the most part of football's existence especially in competitions such as the World Cup. They specialize in winning trophies and are the masters of competitions like the World Cup.
4 Stars (Modestly Strong Football Nation or Confederation) - Countries and confederations at this level might have a highly respectable "name value" and brand recognition either in the football world or the sports world in general. They might also have the world class infrastructure in place but they might lack the pedigree to produce a large number of those "marquee" names of Legends, managers and iconic players to take them up to the next level of being a strong football nation or confederation. History might not always necessarily also be on their side for the most part of their participation in competitions such as the World cup but in due time anything is possible if they choose to take the necessary steps to attain 5 Stars.
3 Stars (Mid Football Nation or Confederation) - Countries and confederations at this level may or may not have a highly respectable "name value" despite the fact that they may have some brand recognition in the football world. They might not always have the best world class football infrastructure in place. As a result of this lack of infrastructure, they might also not have the pedigree to compete with the other football "heavyweights" who have attained a 4 star or 5 star rating when it comes to producing recognizable "marquee" Legends and managers. However, they are usually a "goldmine" for young and often undiscovered players who fall off the radar but some of these players potentially go on to be iconic players if discovered by external scouting systems from other stronger football countries and confederations. The effects of hidden corruption and mismanagement of resources by the football organizations in these countries and confederations has often meant that history has not always been on their side when participating in such competitions such as the World Cup but then again they can aim to move on to the next step of a 4 Star rating if the necessary steps are put in place to root out and eliminate such corruptive elements.
2 Stars (Relatively Mid Football Nation or Confederation) - Countries and confederations at this level usually do not have a respectable "name value" and they do not have a brand recognition in the football world. They usually do not have the world class football infrastructure in place. Although they do not have the capacity to produce the "marquee" Legends and managers to compete in the football world they do produce the occasional world class players who also go on to potentially become iconic players in the football world. Hidden corruption might potentially play a role in the impoverished state of football in such countries and confederations. As a result, competing in certain competitions such as the World cup feels like an unattainable dream or wishful thinking for any professional football players who has the unfortunate fate of being born in such countries and confederations. It will often take a miracle, divine intervention or an Act of God for such talent to be discovered, nurtured and given a chance to compete at a world class level.
1 Star (Weak Football Nation or Confederation) - Countries and confederations at this level do not have a respectable "name value" and they do not have the brand recognition in the football world. They do not have the world class football infrastructure in place but this could be mainly due more to the economic situations facing the countries and confederations. As a result of this, they do not have the capacity yet to produce those "marquee" Legends, managers and iconic players to compete at a world class stage. Although hidden corruption could occur it is often overshadowed by the economic situations facing the countries and confederations and it only becomes a full blown problem once the country or confederation attains a 3 Star ranking. The chance to compete in competitions such as the World Cup feels like a fairytale dream for such countries and confederations. Players in such countries often have to travel to other stronger or moderately stronger football countries and confederations to realize this dream or give up their dream and die in misery wondering what could have been possible.
0 Star (Non-existent Football Nations or Confederation) - This is the lowest rating given to any country or confederation. In fact, a country or confederation which falls into this category cannot even be considered to be called a football nation or confederation which is why they are "non-existent" in the eyes and ears of the football world. Most people more likely to see a Martian from outer space dancing up and down a street in broad daylight than to see such a country or confederation win the World Cup let alone compete in it but ironically such countries and confederations do exist!!
These countries and confederations do not have a respectable "name value" and they do not have a brand recognition in the football world. FIFA does not even recognize them as an entity on the football map. They do not have the world class infrastructure available to them and at times they often have to compete using the facilities of other stronger and mid football countries and confederations. As a result, it is almost impossible for any world class players, managers and Legends to be discovered from such countries and confederations without them having to move to another stronger football country or confederation and naturalize in those conditions to increase their chances of being discovered. The World Cup is an afterthought for those individuals who have the unfortunate fate of being born in such countries and confederations and the only way out is to move to a much stronger football country or confederation.
